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I never did this. I assumed as a first time mom I would probably have enough time to get home and pick it up (and let's face it, probably even pack it) before I truly needed to go to the hospital. I also thought I could send my husband to pick it up (we live near the hospital) if things really went haywire.

I'm also assuming I'll go home first, but if I'm making progress by about 38-39 weeks I may throw it in the trunk.

I never did this BUT then again, when the latest you have a baby is 36 weeks you don't really think about it. Do you have crazy traffic in your area? Usually you have a pretty good idea when you are going into labor so I don't know if its necessary. Plus your OB will start doing cervix checks so you will have an idea when you will go into labor.

I put one in the car at 38 weeks because we were going to be two hours away from the hospital.

Never did this although we lived close to the hospital. There wasn't much in there that was essential. A family member could have gotten it for me if needed.

I never did this but we are 20 minutes from the hospital and 5 from my job so going home would not have been an issue.

If I were you, I'd pack a small bag to keep in with me of things I would want asap. For me, I wanted a certain CD my MIL gifted me, I kept that in my car. If there isn't anything like that, I wouldn't worry about it. As for being in the city and closer, do you have family you could leave a small bag with in the city?

@sera_87: Me neither. Well, I had an open bag half-packed sitting in the living room for about a week. But things like chargers and toiletries were still being used anyway, and I refused to buy doubles of everything

@lovehoneybee: yes, exactly! I use that stuff, man!

Heck,I didn't even install the car seat base until I had contractions the night before I went into labour (with both).

I didn't ever worry about it because I was having a home birth with my first and then was induced with my second.

But since you're far away from the hospital, I'd just do it whenever it's ready and packed. It never hurts to be prepared!

With my first LO I started developing signs of pre-e at 35 weeks and was put on home bedrest. From then on I would take a bag with me to every appointment because I knew there was a chance I might be admitted. I ended up being induced at 36 weeks.

With LO2 I had some similar symptoms so I started carrying a bag at maybe 34 weeks. To be fair I work at the hospital where I delivered and it's about an hour away from my home, so I really didn't want to get stuck there without a bag. I ended up being induced at 39 weeks.

I never put the bag in my car!

I worked closer to my hospital than home. I kept my bag at home and that's where I ended up going into labor.

I never put my bag in the car, and didn't even pack it until 38 weeks. I only used a headband from it during labor so if I didn't have it, I wasn't bothered. I was about 18 miles/45-90 minutes from the hospital, depending on traffic.

@babycanuck: our hospital was an hour away. I think we put a bag in the car around 35 weeks but ended up needing stuff that was in it. Then at 37 weeks we faced possible pre-e and induction, so we re-packed and put them in the car again. A week later when I went into labor we had plenty of time to get the bags out, check contents, load the car, and go. We actually checked into a hotel where I labored for a long time until I was ready to go in. Do what makes you comfortable (maybe take a bag if you're going to be far from home), but as a first time mom you'll most likely have plenty of time.

I packed during early labor. The hospital was about 20 minutes away. My labor ended up being 45 hours long, and I hardly used anything I packed!

I packed a bag at 37 weeks because we were visiting family and going on a babymoon 2 hours away from home. After we got home, the bag stayed at home.

I never did! But we live within 20 min of the hospital. Plus I didn't really need anything from my bag until afterwards....well except for my phone charger!

I'm almost 39 weeks , and just went out of town 3 hours away. So Dh and I packed everything just in case. Luckily baby stayed put and we are home, but we will just leave everything in the car since hopefully we will be using it sooner rather than later

Like others have said, I didn't even completely pack in advance, much less keep my bag with me. I was still using toiletries and had very limited maternity clothes that still fit, so I was about half packed but knew what I still needed to grab. We live about 20 minutes from the hospital, I expected to go late (baby was born at 40 +3), and expected to have time to pack in early labor. My labor ended up progressing quickly (first baby, 7 hours start to finish), but telling my husband what I still needed wasn't a big deal and I honestly didn't need or use a single thing in that bag until well after baby was born.